In recent years, the Canyons School District has launched a major effort to modernize its 43 school libraries, investing $1.2 million into refreshing aging collections to ensure they’re supporting literacy, inquiry and student engagement.

The Districtwide push aims to reflect the diversity of today’s students, including the 4,000 multilingual learners enrolled in Canyons schools. Many collections feature books in multiple languages, aligning with the district’s dual-language immersion programs. When the new Glacier Hills Elementary and Peruvian Park Elementary opened, they received brand-new collections. The rebuilt Union Middle School saw a major library investment when it reopened.

A 2022 review found Canyons’ elementary library collections were, on average, 17 years old, prompting the upgrade.

These improvements represent more than just new books. They reflect a growing recognition that libraries are dynamic, student-centered spaces that promote equity, elevate diverse voices and spark curiosity, said Superintendent Rick Robins.

Robins, who championed the transformation, recently was named Administrator of the Year by the Utah School Librarian Association. 

Robins said he was honored by the recognition, but emphasized the credit belongs to the District’s educators and librarians.

“It’s more than a reflection on my leadership,” he said. “It's a reflection on all the great teachers and teacher librarians that we have in Canyons School District. They're dedicated to literacy and access for our students. They’ve done great work with updating our libraries and helping students find books that they see themselves in, that they can relate to, at the same time making sure that students have safe books that are age appropriate.”

His love of reading stemmed from the arrival of a bookmobile in his rural hometown.

“When the bookmobiles came, I was always excited to go see the newest books,” he said. “Now, these students can walk into the library and experience the tactile feel of a new book to check out. That’s pretty special.”

Canyons School District Library Media Specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff said the District now offers the strongest school library collection in the state.

“Rick is an excellent example of an administrator who understands the value of libraries in supporting literacy,” she said.

Zaitzeff was also recently honored with the Literacy Champion Librarian award at the Love of Reading conference. She oversees the district’s 368,525 physical books and a digital collection of nearly 71,000 titles. 

“It’s a recognition for our ongoing efforts to support our students,” she said, pointing to programs such as Book Blitz, where middle school students read selected titles and compete in trivia-style challenges. The elementary version, Book Blitz Jr., is now in 23 of 28 schools.

“Reading is the most important academic skill that a student can acquire, and any effort that we can make to help support the student in learning to read and then practicing reading and learning to love reading is the most important work we could be doing,” she said.

Zaitzeff believes libraries are essential places for students to practice reading outside the classroom.

“You have to practice reading, so that's what a library is for. It's like a football field or basketball court. It's where you practice reading, with a coach — the librarian — and all the equipment —books — you could need,” she said. “If you like earthworms, I got books on earthworms. If you like rockets, I got books on rockets. Magic? I got books on magic. Taekwondo? Got that too. In the best libraries, we have them in multiple languages and formats to help all students become better readers.”

Beyond books, Canyons’ libraries support the curriculum, provide makerspaces, host author visits and teach research and media literacy skills.

“I can't think of a skill that's more needed than to be able to tell the difference between facts and opinions and accurate information and misinformation,” she said.

Zaitzeff’s love of reading stems from childhood.

“I found libraries to be a welcoming environment that was a really great place to learn and grow, and there was just an excitement about books,” she said. 

Now, she and the rest of Canyons’ dedicated team of K-12 share the same excitement with 31,000 students.

“Our K-12 librarians, they're super dedicated to students,” Zaitzeff said. “They are supportive of teachers and classroom instruction. They work hard to make libraries welcoming and safe spaces for students.”